CHILE: GJEP traveled throughout Chile over 2 weeks in October, where we documented the stories of Mapuche people working to reclaim their ancestral lands from vast industrial eucalyptus and pine plantations, to enable Mapuche families to grow crops and raise livestock.
But the Chilean state is passing new laws to make this illegal. Now if Mapuche people take back their land from the timber industry, they can be arrested and imprisoned. And nearly every community we spoke to talked about their young people being targeted for arrest and languishing in prison, where they can be held for almost 2 years without a trial.
Please help us raise up the voices of Mapuche communities impacted by the timber industry.
While the existing tree plantations are bad enough, Chile’s timber industry is developing freeze tolerant GE eucalyptus trees to expand these destructive plantations. Destroying more forests, harming more Mapuche communities, and drying up fresh water.
20 Years ago, GJEP traveled to Chile for the first time. We met with Indigenous Mapuche and other allies about the struggle there against industrial tree plantations, due to their devastating social and ecological impacts. We also discussed the threats posed by genetically engineered trees being researched in the country. Our commitment to support the Mapuche and other communities in Chile stands strong today.
